Questions About Music

OK, there are lots of songs I have questions about. Here are 2:
  1. When was "the day the music died?" What was behind the song?
  2. Billy Joel's "Miami 2017." What caused the lights to go out on Broadway?
And Rolling Stone Magazine just published its top 500 songs of all time. Number 1 is Bob Dylan's, "Like a Rolling Stone."

Comments? Other song questions? Answers to my questions?
Rudyard K's Avatar
When was "the day the music died?" What was behind the song? Originally Posted by charlestudor2005
The day the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens were killed in the plane crash.

Billy Joel's "Miami 2017." What caused the lights to go out on Broadway? Originally Posted by charlestudor2005
Fictional - From Wiki - As the title indicates, the song is written from the point of view of a narrator situated in Miami, Florida in the year 2017. However, the song is itself a fictional retrospective on the closure, or falling, of New York City some years earlier. The narrator recalls attending an unauthorized concert in Brooklyn (so as "to watch the island bridges blow") on the city's final night in existence, which proceeded in spite of official objection ("They turned our power down / And drove us underground / But we went right on with the show"). The spectators witnessed the various measures being taken to close down the city including the burning of churches in Harlem, the sinking of Manhattan, and the tumbling of the "mighty skyline." According to the song's final verse, New York residents were evacuated, or moved to Florida, and in the meantime, the city's Mafia families had relocated to Mexico, making it their new base of operations.
Very good, RK. I looked all over for an explanation. Must have missed the Wiki reference.

But, as I do recall, the Broadway lights were dimmed for a short time in memory of someone who was important to Broadway. Anyone remember this incident?
discreetgent's Avatar
But, as I do recall, the Broadway lights were dimmed for a short time in memory of someone who was important to Broadway. Anyone remember this incident? Originally Posted by charlestudor2005
May have happened more than once, but I am fairly certain they did it for Ethel Merman
It is fairly commonly done when a famous Broadway actor dies.
..'s Avatar
  • ..
  • 05-30-2010, 11:38 AM
OK, there are lots of songs I have questions about.

Comments? Other song questions? Answers to my questions? Originally Posted by charlestudor2005
well, yep. a question. who the fuck did every freakin' nite?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHh6Y3fZygw
well, yep. a question. who the fuck did every freakin' nite?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHh6Y3fZygw Originally Posted by ..
How 'bout this: http://www.ilike.com/artist/Baltimor...ght?from=imeem
TexTushHog's Avatar
No one knows for sure what the various references in Don McClean's American Pie mean. He has been notably silent on the matter. However, there seems to be a consensus that has emerged over the years, with some variance. Here is one web site that fairly well sums up most of the speculation.

http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~jdevor/l...mericanPie.htm
WOW!!! That's really good stuff, TTH. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve always wondered about “Hotel California”. The obvious answer is drugs, but is it could be fame, women, wealth and its trappings?
caddyman's Avatar
I’ve always wondered about “Hotel California”. The obvious answer is drugs, but is it could be fame, women, wealth and its trappings? Originally Posted by OliviaHoward

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1121
DallasRain's Avatar
what about Puff the Magic dragon???????????
what about Puff the Magic dragon??????????? Originally Posted by DallasRain
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1276

Caddyman--Thanks for the website link.
Rudyard K's Avatar
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1121 Originally Posted by caddyman
Hey stranger.
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1121 Originally Posted by caddyman

Caddyman who? Credibility has been tossed out the window...